WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke and Director of Public Works Eric Lindman held a joint news conference Wednesday to go over the city's list of road construction and infrastructure projects for 2019 and beyond. "These road and infrastructure improvements are both needed and proactive approach from the city to replace what is aging infrastructure," said Mielke.
That list includes the long-awaited second phase of the Thomas Street reconstruction project along with the city's portion of the Townline road project and a complete rebuild of First Avenue from 4th Avene to Thomas Street. In all of those cases, Lindman says the roads will not only be resurfaced, but the public utilities below them will also be replaced and the surfaces will be made more bike and pedestrian friendly. That included a list of preferred detour routes for the three major projects that will take place this summer on Thomas Street, First Avenue, and Townline Road. Thomas Street and First Avenue detours are tied together and will route traffic along Stewart Avenue through 17th Avenue and Grand Avenue. For cars heading west, the route will take them across the river on Scott Street. Eastbound traffic will utilize Washington, N 1st, and Forest Streets to get to Grand. The Townline Road detour for westbound traffic will route them from Camp Phillips Road to Franklin, then Mcindoe and 1st before crossing the bridge at Stewart to 17th. Eastbound traffic will utilize Forest and N 6th Street to get to Franklin and Camp Phillips.
All three of those projects will be underway by June and construction is expected to last through November. The projects are currently out for bids, which will be opened in March and April.
The Mayor's office has made the official detour maps available at the city's website. "DECISION POINT" for the water treatment plant. Both Mielke and Lindman agreed that the city has reached what they called a "decision point" when it comes to what to do with the water treatment facility, currently located downtown near the Wisconsin Riverfront. "Is it going to stay in the same location, or is it better to move it? Those decisions are coming up," said Lindman.
Residents already know a water rate hike is coming in one form or another after city leaders approved a plan to make some $30 million in improvements to the aging facility, but as leaders researched the project further, Mielke says it became clear that moving the plant to the northwest part of town near Northcentral Technical College could set the city up for the long term. "[We have] minimal space for future improvements that may be needed at a later date due to state regulations," said Mielke. "I ask you is in the city's best interest to spend $30 million now and not have enough space for needed future improvements. Or, is it smarter to spend $40 million now knowing we have a better-protected water source and we can handle future regulations."
Lindman says, in either case, the money for the improvements will be borrowed from the State's clean water fund. Should they choose to build at the current site ($30 million option) a typical residential water customer will see their monthly bill increase by about $6 per month. Spending $40 million to build new would amount to an increase of about $7.50 per month.
A public information session on the decision will be held on March 6th at 6:30 PM in Room E-101 and E-102 on the NTC campus. Lindman says his team plans to take public comment between now and then as well before presenting all the information to the City Council in late March for their consideration. 2
